Cuban Vacation

[Master of Bait]

Just got back from a nice week-long getaway with my better half. Great trip and, unbelievably, great food at the Sol Cayo Santa Maria, on Cayo Santa Maria. I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

HUGE thanks for some detailed info provided by Crazyhook before my trip. His advice was very useful and helpful. Unfortunately, however, fishing opportunities were limited to the beach area and I only squeezed in a few short sessions during the trip. Other than some small stuff, I didn't beach anything significant.

 

BUT, I MUST SAY, TOPWATER BARRACUDA AT DUSK AND DAWN OFF THE BEACH IS UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE! I went 0 for 4 off the beach, including one that was inches from shore, but the rush of it all was still incredible. Poppers and Zara Spooks did the trick (almost). I think I'll up-size the hooks next time. I saw lots of fish, just couldn't close the door. It just went something like this...

 

Wade into the dark dusk/dawn ocean up to your belly, quiet, rolling waves, perfect wether, empty beach...

 

Cast out a country mile with a heavy saltwater top water lure....

 

Begin a frantic, super-fast, mad man, arm-aching retrieve across the surface of the water...

 

Whoosh/slurp! The silver/blue/grey back of a 10 lb cuda breaches the surface as the fish clobbers my lure from the side...

 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Drag goes nuts!

 

Fight the fish for a few mins, some cool jumps, and... gone....

 

Ah well, not much I could do. Anyway, I met some fishing friends and there were some fish landed. Below are some pics for your enjoyment....

 

Bathroom view

Hermit crab

Balcony bird

Pool Crab

Wife @ Sunset

Cuban Tree Frog (by the pool)

Cuban Friend caught a red snapper...

...Which he gave to my wife and I...

...For a 3rd wedding anniversary lunch!

Young british buddy nails a cuda on a live baitfish, he doesn't want to touch it...

Fish went into the pan for some cubans

Also had a cuda brak us off on the paddle boat

 

All in all, despite catching fewer fish than I had hoped, the trip was FAN-TASTIC!

 

Cheers,

 

MoB

[Greencoachdog]

Nice report and pics!!!

 

That Snapper is a Mutton Snapper, one of my favorite Caribbean fish to eat!!!

[mikeymikey]

thumb right in the eye socket ? :

[Guest Johnny Bass]

Sounds like you had a great time. Man, those Barracudas sound really aggressive. Have to give it a go one day. Thanks for sharing.